Classic Poem

No w we are met in a knot, let's take t'other pot,
And chirp o're a cup of Nectar;
Let's think on a charm, to keep us from harm,
From the Fiend and the new Protector.

Heretofore at a brunt, a Cross would have don't,
But now they have taken courses,
With their Laws and their theft, there's not a Cross left
In the Church nor the Farmers Purses.

They're with you to bring, for stuffing at a King,
For now you must make no dainty,
To have your Nose ground, on a stone turned round
By Noll , and one and twenty.

But our Rights are kept for us, in Oliver's store-house,
'Twere as good they were set in the Stocks:
They were just in the pickle, in the thirtieth Article,
Like Jack in a Juglers box.

We are loath for to look, for the Saints in a book,
But would not a man be vext,
To see them so rough with their blades and their bluff,
But not a word on't in the Text.

We have been twelve years together by the ears
To prepare for a spiritual raign:
Men were never so spic'd, with the Scepter of Christ
In the hands of a Saint in grain.

'Twas brewed in their Hives by Citizens wives,
Who ventured their husbands far,
With Robin the fool, there was ne're such a tool
To lead in the womens War.

He was ill at Command, but worse at a stand,
So they sought out another more able:
Then Fair . undertakes, but Nol keeps the stakes,
And sends away Fax with a bauble.

Will , Conqueror the second, without his host reckon'd,
And so did B — — billet his Mate;
They made a great noise, 'mongst women and boys,
But now they are both out of date.

Cowardly W — — — had but a foul Fortune,
And wanted a knife to scrape it,
When his Oriphice ran, there was no mortal man,
But omnibus hor is sapit .

Bradshaw , the Knave, sent the King to his grave,
And on the Bloud Royal did trample,
For which the next Lent , he was made President,
And ere long may be made an example.

Dorislaus did steer, to Hans mine heer ,
And Askew to Don at Madril ,
Ere a man could have scratcht, they were both dispatcht,
Yet there they lye Leger still.

Martin and St. Johns , and more with a Vengeance,
Had each a finger i'th' pye:
Some for the Money, and some for the Conny,
And some for they knew not why.

The Parliament sate as snug as a Cat,
And were playing for mine and yours:
Sweep-stakes was their Game, till Oliver came,
And turn'd it to Knave out of doors.

Then a new one was cast and made up in hast,
But alas they could do no more
Than empty our purse, and empty us worse
Than e're we were married before.

But in a good hour, they gave up their power
To one that was wiser than they;
By common consent, 'twas the first Parliament
That ever was felo de se .

After all this Jeer, we are never the near,
There sits one at the Helm commanding;
One that doth us nick, with a trick for our trick,
And the stone in our foot notwithstanding.

He'll not relax, one groat of the Tax,
Though it come to more then he need,
He may keep it in store, till his need be more;
'Tis an Article of our new Creed.

So well he hath wrought, that now he hath brought
The Realm to the manner he it meant;
The fishes, and the foul, and the Devil and all,
And the monthly pay his high rent.

All this we must bear, but 'twould make a man swear
When they call us a Reformed Nation:
It can never sink into my head for to think
That this is a Reformation.

'Tis the man in the Moon, or the Devil as soon,
Our Laws are asleep upon shelves:
Our Charter and Freedom, we may bid God speed um,
'Tis well we can beg for our selves.

Since Nol hath bereft us, and nothing hath left us,
Not a Horse or a Oxe to plough land,
Let Oliver passe, come fill up my Glasse,
And here's a good health to Rowland .